On August 29th, 1975, Éamon de Valera, statesman, soldier, and leader of Ireland, passed away at the age of 92. Born Edward George de Valera on October 14th, 1882, in New York City, Éamon de Valera was the prime architect of the Irish Constitution and a leader of the Irish War of Independence, in which he served as commander-in-chief of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). As a young student at Blackrock College, de Valera developed an interest in mathematics and the sciences, and went on to study at Trinity College in Dublin. In 1916, he joined the IRA, famously leading a group of rebels in the Irish Easter Uprising against British rule. After his release from prison in 1917, de Valera established a new political party, Sinn Féin, which argued for complete independence from the British. He was eventually elected leader of Sinn Féin, and subsequently became the president of the Irish Republic during the War of Independence. In 1921, de Valera concluded a truce with the British, leading to the creation of the Irish Free State. Though a treaty of independence was signed, establishing the Irish Free State, de Valera remained opposed to the British Crown, strongly believing that no part of Ireland should be subject to foreign rule. When the Free State adopted a new constitution in 1937, de Valera was elected President. He held this office until 1959, when he resigned after serving the longest term as president in the history of the Irish Republic. In his later career, de Valera served twice as Taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland. He was widely respected for his service to the Irish people, and his significant contributions to Ireland’s independence. Despite his political successes, de Valera was not without controversy. Throughout his life, he held firm to his unwavering belief of complete Irish independence, regardless of the consequences. He died peacefully at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of service, courage, and even tempered wisdom. He will be sorely missed.